Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Madras high court on Monday directed the local bodies in Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts to file an action plan with a timeline to prevent pollution in the Vaigai river.
A division bench of justice G R Swaminathan and justice B Pugalendhi observed that it was brought to the court's notice by the state that a GO was passed by the govt constituting an environment monitoring cell with the secretary of environment and forest department as chief nodal officer to implement the orders passed by the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi.
The judges took note of the fact that the Vaigai river was not included in the list of rivers monitored by the monitoring cell. A proposal was sent by the chief engineer of the water resources department, Madurai, to include the Vaigai in the list of polluted rivers to be monitored by the monitoring cell. Hence, the judges directed the secretary of the environment and forest department to include Vaigai to be monitored by the cell.
The court was hearing a suo motu plea initiated based on a TOI news report on sewage being discharged into the Vaigai river in Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts. The court was also hearing a batch of petitions seeking to prevent pollution in the river.
Recently, the court took cognisance of the alarming contamination of waste being discharged into the Vaigai from the five districts based on the TOI news report titled ‘Waste from 5 Districts Found Polluting Vaigai.' The report was published based on a study conducted by the Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation (MNCF).
The study reveals that sewage and drainage pipes, including domestic and industrial waste from Sipcot and Sidco, as well as numerous hospital waste, which also includes the waste of 40 shrimp farms in Madapam panchayat of Ramanathapuram district alone, are being discharged at 177 locations in five districts. The report stated that samples collected from 36 locations along the river showed alarming contamination, with all samples classified below D-grade water quality, fit for agricultural and industrial purposes. In Madurai, the samples were ranked as E-grade, suitable only for industrial use.
To restore the Vaigai, which is the water source for five major districts, multi-pronged actions are required. Suitable directions should be issued to the govt to appoint a nodal officer in the cadre of secretary to govt to coordinate and systematically follow up with all other departments to achieve the objective of a pollution-free Vaigai river. Hence, a direction was sought to the authorities to preserve the Vaigai and take stringent actions as per statutory provisions against people polluting and discharging waste into the river in its entire stretch covering all five districts.
[Excerpt from TOI "Madras HC Mandates Vaigai River Pollution Action Plan" Dated 24/01/25]
Q1: Where does the Vaigai River originate?
(a) Nilgiri Hills
(b) Varusanadu Hills
(c) Anaimalai Hills
(d) Palani Hills
Ans: (b)
Sol: The Vaigai River originates in the Varusanadu Hills and flows through the Kambam Valley before emptying into the Palk Bay.
Q2: How many districts does the Vaigai River flow through?
(a) 3
(b) 4
(c) 5
(d) 6
Ans: (c)
Sol: The Vaigai River flows through five districts in Tamil Nadu: Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram.
Q3: What was the reason for the Madras High Court’s recent directive regarding the Vaigai River?
(a) Severe drought in the region
(b) Alarming levels of pollution in the river
(c) Illegal sand mining in the riverbed
(d) Construction of dams affecting water flow
Ans: (b)
Sol: The court’s directive was based on reports of severe pollution in the Vaigai River caused by waste discharge from domestic and industrial sources.
Q4: What did the Madras High Court order local authorities to do?
(a) Ban all industrial activity near the Vaigai River
(b) Submit a comprehensive action plan to mitigate pollution
(c) Construct new dams and reservoirs
(d) Provide alternative drinking water sources
Ans: (b)
Sol: The court directed local authorities to devise an action plan to mitigate pollution in the Vaigai River.
Q5: How many locations across the five districts were identified as sources of waste discharge into the Vaigai River?
(a) 36
(b) 177
(c) 258
(d) 87
Ans: (b)
Sol: A study identified 177 locations where sewage and industrial waste were discharged into the river.
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